A roundup of news on sporting events, people and places in Southeast Michigan by columnist Jim Evans.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Opening Day and other memories

There’s
a picture tacked up in my cubicle.

It’s
of Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey. It is autographed by Ernie.

I
am not much for autographs. They are nothing more than signatures as far as I
am concerned.

But
this is a little different. I love the photo. It’s Ernie and Paul in the
broadcast booth at Tiger Stadium. They are looking toward the photographer and
the field occupies the background.

I
like it because it brings back memories. Not just of Ernie and Paul, but of
baseball at the old stadium. Now I am not the nostalgic type. Tiger Stadium’s
time had come. In its later manifestation, it was peeling and flaking and
walking in the dank concourse was like traversing a dungeon. Also, how many
poles can you find yourself behind as you watch a game?

But
my affection for the place came mainly because it was part of my growing up. The
first time I walked into Tiger Stadium, I was wearing a little league uniform and
a Rawlings mitt on my right hand. The last time I walked in, I had kids of my
own. In between, there was plenty of time spent in the stadium; from box seats
to the center field bleachers to the press box. I saw Mark Fidrych and Ron
LeFlore and Al Kaline and Norm Cash. I saw Carl Yaztrzemski, Mickey Mantle, Rod
Carew and Reggie Jackson. I ripped out some sod in ’68 and was in the press box
when Kirk Gibson launched those home runs in ’84. I was on a bus heading back
to the Renaissance Center when the car was overturned and in flames with Bubba hefting
the bottle of Jack Daniels or whatever he was drinking in that infamous photo.

So
there you go. There were peanuts bought from the guy who used to hawk them at
Michigan and Trumbull and cheeseburgers scarfed down at Nemos. There were beers
downed at Hoot Robinson’s place both before and after the game.

I
am not sure I loved Tiger Stadium as much as what it represented. It was summer
and it was growing up and it was being a grown up.

That
is why I love the photo of Ernie and Paul. It represents so much more. The
Tigers will play their home opener against the Yankees Friday at Comerica Park.